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AutoCAD Plant 3D Managing Large Projects Page 2

Contents Getting Started .............................................................................................................................................. 3

Setting Up Your Project ................................................................................................................................. 3

Controlling Rights Between Disciplines .................................................................................................... 4

Working With Xrefs. ..................................................................................................................................... 5

Simplifying Working With Xrefs ............................................................................................................... 5

Modeling Using Xrefs ............................................................................................................................... 6

Managing Drawing Sizes With Xrefs ........................................................................................................ 7

Data Management ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Working In a Distributed Environment ..................................................................................................... 8

Managing Deliverables .................................................................................................................................. 9

Piping Isometrics ....................................................................................................................................... 9

Orthographic Drawings ........................................................................................................................... 11

Working with a Master Model .................................................................................................................... 13

Working with Navisworks ....................................................................................................................... 14

SQL Server ............................................................................................................................................... 17

Vault ........................................................................................................................................................ 18

Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................. 18

Appendix 1 Managing Drawing Rights Access ......................................................................................... 19

Windows Folder Structure ...................................................................................................................... 19

Plant 3D Project Folder Structure ........................................................................................................... 21

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AutoCAD Plant 3D Managing Large Projects Page 8

sub-racks which will encroach into process areas. The best practices approach discussed so far handles this approach easily.

Managing piping models can be done in many different ways. Since Plant3D allows intelligent connections across Xrefs. Thus piping models can be divided into sub-areas or by line numbers, with each designer allocated a certain number of lines. There are no constraints on how to divide up the area.

Data Management AutoCAD Plant 3D uses an SQL database to manage non-graphic data. The default SQL database engine delivered with Plant 3D is SQLite (www.sqlite.org) Everything you need to manage the data within a Plant3D project is delivered with Plant 3D and you do not need to be a database expert nor do you need to understand SQL databases in order to use SQLite. SQLite is a simple and effective solution for managing data in smaller projects where integration with enterprise databases is neither necessary nor desirable. Thus small companies can use SQLite for their projects and Plant 3D Data Manager will be an effective interface to the project and drawing data. For more information on SQLite visit http://www.sqlite.org/about.html

For larger organizations who have large amounts of data stored within Enterprise Databases, Plant 3D will support SQL Server. The inclusion of SQL Express in the Plant 3D allows you to select whether to use SQLite or connect to your corporate database.

When should I stick with SQLite and when should I use SQL Server? This is a difficult question to answer and it depends more on how you use the data than on how many users need to access the project database. If you are already using corporate databases and want to share the Plant 3D data with other database applications, then SQL Server is definitively the correct answer. If your project users are distributed geographically, then SQL Server may be the best solution as the database server will manage the distribution of the database, or manage the centralization of the data.

Regardless of whether you use SQLite or SQL Server, the Data Manager allows you to extract data to Excel spreadsheets for non-CAD users to manipulate the data.

Working In a Distributed Environment Buzzsaw (www.buzzsaw.com) offers a very useful way of placing files in a central server to allow distributed users to access these files if you do not have a central server and WAN for project collaboration, or if you have external people/companies working on a project and you do not want to grant them access to your local network.

Autodesk Buzzsaw software as a service (SaaS) delivers document, data, and design management solutions to architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms and owner-operators. Autodesk Buzzsaw helps organizations centralize and more securely exchange project information inside and outside their organization. And with proven SaaS technology, your company can focus more on project delivery and less on managing costly IT infrastructure.

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AutoCAD Plant 3D Managing Large Projects Page 17

SQL Server The decision to use SQL Server is driven by the number of users modifying project data at one time. The default database type, SQLite is valid for up to 2 TB per file, so the project file size is not the issue. Because the SQLite database is a single file, successful read/writes depend on fast access. When more users access the database at one time, they have a higher chance of hitting the database at the same time (or close enough).

Due to network configurations, server performance, computer performance, network loads, and a host of other factors, a precise number of users cannot be given. However, through experience with various clients, most people start to see performance degradation with between 6 - 10 users.

If you know you will have more than 10 active users, you should implement SQL Server Express or SQL Server.

You must also use SQL Server if you plan to use Plant 3D with Vault.

Database Types SQL Server An enterprise-level product offering from Microsoft that includes a database server with administration tools for replicating databases between sites, and other advanced features

SQL Server Express A free product offering from Microsoft that includes a database server without advanced administration tools. You can still configure backups.

SQLite An open source file-based database used by developers world-wide. The database engine is fast with good performance.

Versions AutoCAD Plant 3D has been run with SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, and SQL Server 2012.

Articles on setting up SQL Server Express and creating backups are available here:

http://www.pdoteam.com/series/plant3d-on-sql-express/

AutoCAD Plant 3D Managing Large Projects Page 18

Vault Autodesk Vault (http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-vault-family/features ) is document management software that integrates with many products in the Autodesk portfolio. In 2014, Vault became integrated into the Plant Project Manager.

Vault should be used in the following conditions:

You have multiple sites that need to share data Your Plant project structure contains all external references. You can use SQL Server or SQL Server Express.

Vault allows you to store the drawing data in a central location, and have satellite offices check in/out drawings on an as-needed basis. Currently, all xrefs must reside within the project structure, as Plant uses its own working directory for Vaulted projects.

Conclusions This document is a guide to help you set up and manage a large project. It is a guide, not a bible, so feel free to adjust the recommendations to suit the way you work. And remember, designers need to have exclusive access to a model file while they work. So you need to have at least as many model files as you have designers!

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) the Project Mawing file is h

setup time. Od in the corre

P

Manager will held in the

Once the project folder.

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ect is